Case for products such as moist wipes

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a case which is opened along a break-off line by pulling on a label capable of being stuck back. The break-off line extends up to the edge of the case front wall. Each item has on its front surface a prehensile corner located in the pile median zone. The prehensile corner of the item located at the top of the pile is positioned opposite the dispensing aperture. The invention is applicable to cases for moist wipes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a case, and in particular a caseintended to contain and distribute products, for example productspresented more or less in the form of a folded sheet, arranged in a pileinside said case.

It is also intended for an article constituting a case containing suchproducts.

In the prior art there were cases for hygiene products made with a filmor leaf of flexible plastic material enveloping the products. Thesecases have a median longitudinal joint along one of their major facesand a joint along each of the two edges perpendicular to thelongitudinal joint.

More or less in the middle of the other major face, these cases have anopening device comprising a break-off line, for example a line alreadycut out, not rectilinear, and an adhesive label. Generally the labelcovers the zone defined inside the break-off line, and extends slightlyoutside said zone.

When the case is used for the first time, the label is separated fromthe corresponding wall. The label is unstuck from the region of the wallsituated outside the break-off line and brings with it the region of thewall located inside the break-off line. This region detaches from therest of the wall along the break-off line and then forms a closing andopening cap of a dispensing aperture. The case is re-closed, by stickingthe label back in its initial position, the cap returning more or lessinto place in the dispensing aperture.

Patent WO96/11147 describes such a case intended to contain hygieneproducts arranged in piles. The objective is to reduce the surface ofthe adhesive label, in order to economise adhesive material. It presentsa break-off line in a V shape or in the shape of part of a circle, and alabel whose shape is more or less analogous, which only covers thebreak-off line and the lateral edges on either side of it.

In the present state of the art as in the prior art the cases have acertain number of inconveniences in common. The most important arediscussed below.

In general, the opening device is placed more or less in the middle ofone of their faces. It is often difficult to grip the product appearingon the top of the pile through the dispensing aperture. There is alsothe risk of taking out at least two products at once instead of one.

In the present state of the art the cases generally have a longitudinaljoint along one of their faces, like many food packages. This joint isnot aesthetic and gives the case a utilitarian appearance, unsuited toluxury products in particular, for example, wipes impregnated withprestigious perfumes.

In the previous state of the art the cases were made out of a flexiblematerial which did not have the solidity required for certain uses, andthere was a risk, for example, of tearing, particularly if the userpulled the label further than that planned by the designer of the case.The label then risked being pulled off completely and could be verydifficult to re-stick completely and/or tightly.

In the previous state of the art there was also a case which could bere-closed, described in patent WO91/04920. This case was intended toimprove previous cases with a hole in the front face, to allow theextraction of a handkerchief, or to replace cases with a break-off lineextending as far as a sealing strip. This document proposed replacingthis median hole or the shutter limited by the cut-out line and thesealing strip by an opening limited by a cut-out line extending as faras the upper edge.

This solution is not satisfactory, since the traction exerted by theflap can cause a tear along the fold forming the upper edge, especiallywhen the traction comprises a component parallel to the fold. There isthen a loss of tightness. Moreover, the upper edge of the wipes isaccessible when the case is open, which can lead the user to take outthe wipe not by seizing it by the median fold but by seizing it by theupper edge. This poor manipulation leads to defective hygiene and a riskof extracting several wipes. Moreover, the flap can position itself inan inclined way, which decreases the tightness of the packaging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to propose a product case to remedyat least some of the inconveniences of the previous state of the art.

According to a first feature of the invention, the case comprisessealing means and an opening device set on one face of the case andformed by an adhesive label and an opening cap surrounded at leastpartly by a break-off line. The adhesive label entirely covers theopening caps and extends beyond the break-off line which extends to thevicinity of a stop edge of the said face. The break-off line extends tothe vicinity of the upper edge, without actually reaching it. The ideaof vicinity depends on the size and dimension of the case. It can beconsidered, within the meaning of the present patent, as a distancewhich is lower by several percent, in particular less than 10%, of thedimension parallel to the traction axis.

The notion of “without coming into contact” is to be understood askeeping a small distance, for example less than several thousandths, inparticular less than 1%, of the dimension parallel to the traction axis.

This solution makes it possible to avoid tearing the case in the eventof excessive traction on the closing cap. Moreover, it keeps an upperzone in which the packaged article remains held, contrary to solutionscomprising a sealing strip.

The result obtained is greater tightness and a re-closable opening whichavoids the item being caught by the side. They can only be seized by themedian corner.

The break-off line defines the contour of a dispensing aperture, whichis situated in such a way as to overlap preferably one edge of the firstitem to be distributed.

Thus the user can, with one finger, select the first item appearingbefore taking it out easily, pulling on the central corner. Difficultiesand wastage during use are thus avoided.

The zone extending between the extremities of the break-off line and theside of the case has the function of stopping the movement resultingfrom the traction on the label. It can be a zone belonging to theexternal contour of the case, or a zone formed within the externalcontour.

The break-off line preferably presents two extremities going more orless to the stop edge and between which the material of the case formsan articulation line for the cap.

In the different embodiments described hereinafter the face with thebreak-off line will be called the front face. The opposite face will becalled the rear face.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the case is made ofplastic material, for example thermoformed or injected, and presents ashell forming the rear face of the case and inter-linked with a closureelement by joining their respective free edges. The said closure elementcan be constituted of a flexible membrane, but advantageously takes theform of a second shell forming the front face of the case. In the lattercase, before being joined, the two shells can be:

independent and thus joined later by their four free edges, or

thermoformed on the same sheet of plastic in such a way as to be joinedby one part of this sheet making a hinge. The two shells are then joinedby their three remaining free edges.

In this first embodiment, the stop edge can be an edge common to twofaces of one of the shells.

According to this embodiment, the case of the invention canadvantageously comprise a tongue placed in a plane parallel to thatformed by the two shells. This tongue is useful for handling the case.It can also act as support for a possible hollow body.

According to this same embodiment the case can furthermore comprisemeans of pushing, intended to facilitate the exit of the items containedin the said case. These different elements will be described in detailfurther on in the description.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the case is made froma sheet of flexible and impermeable material, for example plasticmaterial, folded in two along a fold line in such a way as to form twomore or less parallel parts. These two parts are joined together bytheir respective free edges.

In a first variant of the second embodiment of the invention, thebreak-off line is situated in the vicinity of the fold line. Preferably,the stop edge is constituted by the fold line. According to thisvariant, the adhesive label can be arranged in such a way as to overlapthe fold line. This arrangement has the advantage of providing a labelwith a very high traction resistance.

In another variant of the second embodiment of the invention, the foldline is located on the edge opposite the break-off line. The adhesivelabel can then be placed in such a way that one edge of the label isadjacent to the edge of the case opposite the fold line; thisarrangement has the advantage of being economical since it needs littleadhesive material.

The label can also be formed by a return of the back part of the caseonto the front part. This return overlaps the break-off line in such away as to cover the cap. This return is possibly inter-linked by joiningit to the edge neighbouring the break-off line. In addition, it is madeadhesive after coating with an adhesive polymer or any other materialpossessing the required adhesive properties.

In a final embodiment of the present invention, the case is made fromtwo pieces of plastic material placed in parallel planes, these twoparts being joined together by their four respective free edges.

In this embodiment, the adhesive label is arranged in such a way as tooverlap the edge of the case adjacent to it.

According to any one of these embodiments, the adhesive label can ifneeded be linked to the case by joining it, for example, to the lateraledge adjacent to it. Nonetheless any other adequate means of linkage canbe envisaged.

Thus according to one or the other of the embodiments, the case has twoopposite parts, joined together by lateral edges, and whose long facesare not crossed by any joining line. They remain available, for example,to receive a decorative motif or a message of the advertising type.

Traditionally, hygiene products arranged in a pile inside the case areeach folded in a certain number of elementary rectangles and/or squaresone of which constitutes a face of the folded item turned towards thedispensing aperture.

According to one feature of the invention, the article comprisingproducts, especially paper products particularly in the form of a sheetsuch as, for example, wipes or handkerchiefs, arranged in a pile insidethe distributor case with a dispensing aperture in one of -its faces, ischaracterised in that each product presents on one face turned towardsthe dispensing aperture, a prehensile corner situated in the median zoneof its front item to be distributed is positioned in front of thedispensing aperture of the case.

Advantageously, the prehensile corners located on the products can havea boarder whose colour differs from that of the hygiene products.

The user can thus tell at a glance the precise place where he shouldtake hold of the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will be found inthe following description of the two embodiments given as anon-restrictive example. In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1 represents in perspective a hygiene article comprising a caseaccording to the first embodiment of the invention and an arrangement ofhygiene products in this case;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 represent, respectively, views of the hygiene articleof FIG. 1 from above, from in front and from the side,

FIG. 4 represents an article comprising a case according to the firstembodiment comprising a possibly hollow body;

FIG. 5 illustrates the dividing lines for a first method of folding ahygiene product;

FIG. 6 illustrates the first method of folding a hygiene product;

FIG. 7 is analogous to FIG. 1, but for a hygiene article whose casecorresponds to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 represents a view from above and in unfolded form of the case ofthe hygiene article of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is analogous to FIG. 8 for productive variants;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are analogous to FIGS. 5 and 6 for a second mode offolding;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a complex film for producing a variant of theinvention;

FIG. 13 represents the film during preparation;

FIG. 14 represents a front view of a case produced according to thisvariant in closed position;

FIG. 15 represents a front view of a case produced according to thisvariant in open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

In the embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 to 4, case 1 is produced insemi-rigid thermoformed plastic material and comprises two complementaryshells 3 of the same shape and the same dimensions, each formed with abody more or less the shape of a truncated pyramid with an openrectangular base surrounded by a lateral edge 7.

The two shells 3 are arranged against each other, the two cavities 5communicate with each other and the respective lateral edges 7 arejoined to each other hermetically all around the two bodies.

The lateral edges 7 are preferably of small width compared with thedimensions of the cavities 5, in practice their width is as small aspossible compatible with an efficient joint.

Each body has a base 15 more or less plane and a lateral wall 17 whichlinks the base 15 and the lateral edge 7. The base 15 is separated fromthe adjacent lateral wall 17 by four ridges extending according to thecontour 19 of the base 15, obtained during thermoforming.

The base 15 of one of the shells 3, called “front”, comprises an openingdevice 21. The device comprises a break-off line 23 made in the base 15of the shell 3, for example a pre-cut line, which is not rectilinear norclosed, and whose two extremities 25 rejoin the contour 19 in a singleridge 119 forming a stop edge as explained below.

The opening device 21 also comprises an adhesive label 27 arranged onthe outside of the shell 3. The label 27 completely covers a cap 29defined by the break-off line 23 and the part of the stop edge 119located between the extremities 25 of the break-off line 23 forming thearticulation line of the cap. Besides, the label extends beyond the cap29, on the one hand on the base 15 leaving an overlapping zone 31 allaround the break-off line 23, and on the other hand beyond the stop edge119 leaving a fixation zone 33 on the lateral wall 17.

Opposite the fixation zone 33, the adhesive label 27 is provided with atab 35, locally prolonging the overlapping zone 31. The tab 35 does nothave an adhesive coating.

At the time when the case is first used, the user takes the tab 35between two fingers and lifts it in the direction of the fixation zone33.

The overlapping zone 31 of the adhesive label 27 unsticks from the base15, while the cap 29 is cut out gradually along the break-off line 23.The cap 29 remains stuck to the adhesive label 27 and allows adispensing aperture 37 to appear through the base 15.

The break-off procedure from the base 15 stops automatically when itreaches ridge 119 at the extremities 25 of the break-off line 23because:

there is no break-off line on the lateral wall 17 to guide thebreak-off,

the ridge 119, separating the plane of the base 15 and the plane of theadjacent face of the lateral wall 17, then forms a stop edge forunsticking the adhesive label 27 and for the break-off of the base 15,since the traction exercised by the user on the tab 35 is not orientedin the direction of tearing, compared to the lateral wall 17,

the same stop edge 119 constitutes, as already explained, a naturalarticulation line (FIG. 1) between the cap 29 separated from the baseand the lateral wall 17.

If the extremities 25 of the break-off line 23 did not extend almost tothe contour 19, there would be a risk of prolonging the cut-out beyondsaid extremities 25, in an irregular fashion, and in tearing form, untilsaid tear meets said contour 19. The tear, once started, could beprolonged even further. This is why it is preferable for the break-offline 23 to be next to a stop edge such as 119.

In order to reclose the case 1, the user proceeds in the reverse orderfrom opening: he or she resets the cap 29 on the dispensing aperture 37and reapplies the overlapping zone 31 of the adhesive label 27 on thebase 15. The adhesive label 27 is provided with an adhesive coatingwhich enables it to unstick and restick several times, each timere-establishing tightness.

The case 1 must be air- and water-tight, to avoid any evaporation of theliquid impregnating the hygiene products 41 when it concerns humidwipes. In order to obtain this, case 1 comprises tightness means, amongthem the adhesive label 27, the joining lines 8, and the articulationline formed by part of the ridge 119.

In the example shown, the lateral edges 7 can locally have a greaterwidth, for example for a tab 9 for handling the case and hooking it ontoa sales display unit.

In a special form of embodiment according to the first embodiment of theinvention, the case comprises on its tab 9 the means for securing thecase on a support. An example of a means of securing consists of a body,possibly hollow, whose rear face carries adhesive material. Thispossibly hollow body has a depth at least equal to the depth of the rearshell of the case 1. In the case where the body is hollow, it is able tocontain a perfumed compound or any other equivalent product.

The means for securing on a support can be articulated to the case byany appropriate means such as a hinge. This articulation providesrelative freedom of movement between the case 1 and the means ofsecuring on a support. Thus, when the case 1 is secured on a support,for example the dashboard of a car, by the rear face through securingmeans, thanks to the hinge it benefits from a certain freedom ofmovement. This property allows, especially, easier handling of the caseof the invention.

As FIGS. 1 and 4 show, the hygiene article also comprises a pile 39 ofhygiene products 41 folded and piled up according to a parallelepiped inthe space inside the case 1.

The dispensing aperture 37 of the opening device 21 overlaps an edge 43of the pile 39 and in particular the first item to be distributed 45.

In order to avoid problems linked with displacement of the prehensilecorner 47 after successive utilisation of the case 1, the lattercomprises pushing means 45. These will push the pile 39 of hygieneproducts 41 towards the opening device 21 and thus facilitate extractionof the first item 41 to be distributed while hindering displacement ofthe prehensile corner 47 relative to the dispensing aperture 37.

Said pushing means 45 can comprise a spring, for example a blade spring45, set between the pile 39 of products 41 and the base 15 of the shell3 which has no dispensing aperture, and is represented in side viewunder the form of a V in FIG. 4.

Nevertheless, the pushing means 45 can also be formed by the back faceof the case. For this it suffices for the latter to have a concavity 4,maximum at rest, that is to say when the case is empty. When the pile ofwipes is set in place in the case, the wipes rest against the concavity4. Progressively, as the wipes are removed, the concavity 4 exerts apressure, thus acting as a means of pushing on the wipes.

The hygiene products 41 are folded in such a manner as to show aprehensile corner 47 on their front face 49 along the edge 43 which isoverlapped by the dispensing aperture and at a distance from the angles44 of the pile.

The dispensing aperture 37 discloses the prehensile corner 47 of thefirst hygiene product 41 to be distributed when the cap 29 is lifted.

Below is defined a first method of folding a hygiene product 41 whichproduces a prehensile corner 47 on the face of said product, asillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 represents an item 41 in unfolded configuration under the form ofa rectangle R of length A and width B. The dividing lines 51 are dotted,parallel to the edges of length A and dividing lines 53 parallel to theedges of width B.

These dividing lines 51, 53 divide the rectangle R into elementaryrectangles 55, 57.

In the example shown, there is a single dividing line 53 defining tworows of elementary rectangles 55, 57 all with the same elementary lengthC which defines the greatest dimension of the item 41 folded parallel tothe length A of the unfolded product. On the other hand there are twodividing lines 51 which define two adjacent columns of elementaryrectangles 55, all with an elementary width D, and a column ofelementary rectangles 57 with an elementary width E smaller than theelementary width D.

The elementary width D defines the smallest dimension of the item 41when folded, parallel to the stop edge 119 in the case.

Preferably the width D is close to double the width E. The column Ofelementary rectangles 57 which have the smallest width E is adjacent toone edge of the rectangle R.

The folding of the item 41 is illustrated in FIG. 6. It comprises thefollowing stages:

the rectangle R is pleated following the two dividing lines 51, formingthree sections, two of them with width D and the third with width E.

next the pleating is folded along the dividing line 53 as indicated bythe arrow 59.

Thus the two elementary rectangles 55 of width D are put into contact,and the elementary rectangles 57 of width E are oriented towards theexterior.

In this way one obtains a prehensile corner 47 located in the medianzone of one of the edges of the item 41, said prehensile corner 47 beingable to be separated easily from the subjacent elementary rectangle 55by a movement illustrated by the arrow 61 in FIGS. 6 and 1.

When a pile 39 of folded hygiene products 41 is formed as describedabove, one has to be careful that each item shows a prehensile corner 47along the same edge of the pile, orienting them all the same way or, forexample, in one direction or the other alternately.

When the pile is placed in the case, this edge should extend along thestop edge 119 of the case.

This method of folding is particularly adapted to the cases defining aninterior space which is close to a parallelepiped, and whose dispensingaperture 37 is arranged along a small side of the case, as for the caseshown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a second embodiment of the case 1, also able toreceive hygiene products folded according to the first folding method,and will not be described except for its differences from the firstembodiment.

This time case 2 is produced from a piece 65 cut out from a sheet offlexible plastic material.

Piece 65 has a symmetrical longitudinal axis 67 and a folding line 69perpendicular to the symmetrical axis 67 and dividing the piece 65 intotwo parts 71 and 72, with external contours more or less symmetricalcompared to the folding line. Along this contour they have a lateralwall 73 whose internal contour is illustrated in FIG. 8 by a dotted line75.

Case 2 is produced by folding piece 65 along the folding line 69 andjoining the respective lateral edges 73 of the two parts 71, 72 to eachother. The case is closed hermetically around its perimeter by thefolding and the joint.

The break-off line 23 is located on one of the parts 71.

In a first variant of this embodiment, the extremities 25 of the line 23extend up to the folding line 69.

The adhesive label 27 covers the cap 39 and overlaps all around it onthe corresponding part 71 of the case 2, and either beyond the foldingline 69 onto the other part 72 of the case 2 or placed in such a waythat the edge of the label 27 is adjacent to the folding line 69.

In a second variant of this embodiment, the folding line 69 is locatedon the edge of the part 71 opposite the break-off line 23. The label 27is then formed by a return of the rear part 72 of the case over thefront part 71. This return overlaps the break-off line 23 in such a wayas to cover the opening cap 37. This return is made adhesive by coatingwith an adhesive polymer. For this, it is particularly advantageous touse an adhesive whose polymerisation can be temperature controlled.Those skilled in the art alone can determine at which production stageof the case it is suitable to give the polymer its adhesive properties.

When the case 2 is used for the first time, the part 71 is cut out alongthe break-off line 23, revealing a dispensing aperture 37 (FIG. 7). Thecut-out process ends on its own on the folding line 69, whichconstitutes a stop edge.

The sealing means of the case 2 comprise the nature of the materialconstituting the case; the adhesive label 27, the joining line 74 andthe folding line 69.

Another embodiment of case 2, equally able to receive hygiene productsfolded according to the first folding method, and which will not bedescribed apart from its differences from the embodiment of case 2 asexplained above.

This time the case 2 is produced from two pieces 65 cut out of a sheetof flexible plastic material. The pieces 65 are placed in parallelplanes and form two parts 71, 72 more or less parallel. The two parts71, 72 are joined together by their four respective free edges 73.

In this embodiment, the adhesive label 27 is arranged in such a way asto overlap the edge of the case which is adjacent to it.

FIG. 7 illustrates the arrangement of the pile 39 of hygiene products 41inside the case 2. It is to be noted that with the case according tothis embodiment, contrary to the flexible cases of the previous state ofthe art, the hygiene products can be arranged in the case by filling itand not by enveloping a pile of products with a sheet of plastic.

In particular, the case can be prepared by folding along the fold line,and then joining part of the lateral edges, before filling the pouchthus formed with the pile of products, and joining the final part of thelateral edges.

A variant of the second embodiment of producing the case 2 isillustrated in FIG. 9.

This time, the dispensing aperture 37 is arranged along a long side ofthe case 2. This variant corresponds to a second method of folding thehygiene products 41 which will be described by referring to FIGS. 10 and11.

FIG. 10 represents an item 41 in unfolded configuration in the form of arectangle R of length A and width B. The dotted lines show the dividinglines 77 parallel to the edges of length A and the dividing lines 79parallel to the edges of width B.

These dividing lines 77, 79, divide the rectangle R into elementaryrectangles 81.

In the example given, there are two dividing lines 77 which define threerows 83, 85, 87 and two dividing lines 79 which define three columns 89,91, 93 of elementary rectangles 81.

The central row 83 has an elementary length F, which defines the biggestdimension of the folded item 41. The rows 85, 87 present elementarylengths G, H, respectively, both smaller than the elementary length F.Preferably, the elementary lengths G and H are complementary so thattheir sum G+H is more or less equal to the elementary length F.

The adjacent columns 89 and 91 both present an elementary width J whichdefines the smallest dimension of item 41 folded. Column 93 has anelementary width K reduced compared to J. This column 93 is adjacent toan edge of the rectangle R.

The folding of the product 41 is illustrated in FIG. 11. It comprisesthe following stages:

rectangle R is pleated following the dividing lines 79, forming threesections of respective widths G, F, H; the two opposite faces of thepleating are of reduced width starting from the two opposite lateraledges;

next, the pleats are folded along the dividing lines 79, for examplestill pleated, as illustrated by arrow 95 of FIG. 11.

The front face of the product is considered to be that where theelementary rectangles are the biggest.

Thus a prehensile corner 47 is obtained located in the median zone of anedge of the front face of the product 41, said prehensile corner beingeasily separated from the subjacent elementary rectangle 81 by amovement illustrated by arrow 97 in FIG. 11.

An advantageous embodiment is described in reference to FIGS. 12 to 15.

The case can be produced by folding and lateral sealing of a complexfilm formed, as shown in FIG. 12, by:

a layer 100 of an adhesive material, in particular a heat-reactiveadhesive on its external face and cold-reactive on the surface incontact with the film of plastic material 101;

a layer 101 formed by a plastic material such as PET;

a barrier layer 102 formed by a sheet of aluminium;

an external layer 103 formed by a plastic material such as polyethylene.

This complex is cut out to form two lobes, 105, 106, joining together ina median line 107. The lobes, 105 and 106, are in general rectangular inshape, and advantageously the lateral edges 108, 109, 110, 111, areconvex.

The complex film is then prepared using a grooving matrix as shown inFIG. 13. A first cutter, 112, cuts out the complex film half-way to cutout the adhesive layer 100 completely, along a line 114 corresponding tothe edge of the access aperture to the wipes. This cut-out can be madewith a cutting tool with matrices equipped with steel cutting blades

On the other face, the polyethylene side, a second cutter 113 makes apartial cut of the three others, 101 to 103, according to the break-offline 23.

The point 115 can be deactivated to inhibit adhesion, by treating thiszone to lower the qualities of the adhesive, or by gluing a piece of anon-adhesive material.

FIG. 14 represents a front view of a case produced according to thisvariant in a closed position. The break-off line 23 extends, at thelevel of its two extremities 120 and 121, up to the vicinity of the fold107, without coming into contact with this fold. The lateral edges 130and 131, as well as the lower edge 132 are sealed by heat-sealing orsealing of the adhesive surfaces of the two lobes, 105 and 106, of thecomplex film. The point 115 is de-adhesived to enable the user to seizethe flap 113 easily.

FIG. 15 represents a front view of a case produced according to thisvariant in an open position. The flap 133 shows a wide adhesive strip,134, which can be stuck back. The wipes appear by showing a mediancorner 135 allowing easy seizure, by pulling them from this corneralone. They are held in place by the upper strip 136 extending betweenthe extremities 120, 121 of the break-off line 23, and the upper fold,107.

Evidently, the invention is not restricted to the examples which havebeen described above and many variations can be added to these exampleswithout leaving the framework of the invention.

It is possible to envisage cases of different shapes, for each of thetwo embodiments of the invention.

The examples which have been described concern a case for hygieneproducts, but it is also possible to envisage the same cases intendedfor other products, without leaving the framework of the invention.

It is possible to envisage that the hygiene products 41 are notrectangular in shape but, for example, square. The methods of foldingdescribed above could be applied in the same manner.

The associations described between each embodiment or production variantof the case for each method of folding are preferred but not restricted.

Each embodiment of the articles of the present invention can include aspecial method for incorporating products. The article which is thesubject of the present invention can be provided with wipes or any otherproduct according to procedures of the present state of the art and atdifferent stages of production of the case.

Thus, in an illustrative but not restrictive manner, when the casecomposing the article is shaped from a flexible sheet, it is possible toform a first edge by bending the sheet, and then forming two other edgesby joints and then filling the case thus formed through the sideremaining open which will not be joined up until the case has beenfilled.

According to the quality of the wipes used, the impregnation can takeplace individually for each wipe and therefore before being placed inthe cases, or grouped together at any stage whatsoever of theincorporation process.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article comprising sheet products arranged ina pile, said sheet products being located inside a distributing casehaving means for making the case air-tight and water-tight and anopening device arranged on one face of the case, said opening devicecomprising an open cap prolonged by a peripheral adhesive border andsurrounded at least partly by a break-off line, the break-off line beinga non-closed curved line extending, at each of its extremities, to thevicinity of an edge of the case without coming into contact with saidedge, said edge further having a dispensing aperture, each of said sheetproducts presenting on a face turned towards the dispensing aperture aprehensile corner located in a median zone of a front face, theprehensile corner of a first sheet product to be distributed beingplaced in front of the dispensing aperture of the case, each of saidsheet products being folded and having a first pleating following afirst direction in such a way that at least two rectangles of differentwidths are superposed and a second pleating following a second directionperpendicular to the first direction so that a rectangle of smallerwidth appears on the outside of the folded product.
 2. an articleaccording to claim 1, wherein each of said sheet product has on a faceopposite to the smaller width rectangle, a second smaller widthrectangle starting from an opposite lateral edge.